Florent's Guide To The Florida, Bahamas &

Caribbean Reefs

Balloonfish
Diodon holocanthus
Balloonfish
Also known as: Long-Spine Porcupinefish, Spiny Balloonfish, Freckled Porcupinefish
Category: Porcupinefishes
Scientific Name: Diodon holocanthus
Size: 8 to 14 in. (20 to 35 cm)  
Depth: 6-100 ft. (2-30 m)
Distribution: Bermuda, Brazil, Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, Indo-Pacific, Pacific Coast of Mexico to Panama, Gulf of California, Gulf of America
Chordata (Phylum)
└Vertebrata (Subphylum)
 └Osteichthyes (Parvphylum)
  └Actinopterygii (Gigaclass)
   └Actinopteri (Superclass)
    └Teleostei (Class)
     └Tetraodontiformes (Order)
      └Diodontidae (Family)
       └Diodon (Genus)
        └D. holocanthus (Species)

Odd-Shaped Swimmers
Porcupinefishes

Balloonfish

Porcupinefish

Bridled Burrfish

Web Burrfish

Spotfin Burrfish

Striped Burrfish



All Photographs
© 2025 Florent Charpin